I’ve never really thought much about my identity. I never really knew what it meant and I thought it was rather self-centered to read through the Bible to pick out what it says about who we are. At Bible study (that my friends Judith and Kathryn started), the topic we read was about finding our identity. It forced me to think about it more and what I discovered was that I struggle with where I place my identity.
So what is a person’s identity? We hear the term thrown around so often, it is hard to put our finger on what it actually is. So here’s my working definition: A person’s identity is who they are. It can often be portrayed or changed by the individual to fit who they think they are or who they want other people to think they are.
Our culture today often pressures us to fit their ideal mold. We feel the need to be identified as beautiful, self-sufficient, capable, intelligent, captivating, financially secure, humorous, accepting, etc.
Our culture today often pressures us to fit their ideal mold. We feel the need to be identified as beautiful, self-sufficient, capable, intelligent, captivating, financially secure, humorous, accepting, etc.
Not that any of these things are wrong, but they can often be our focus and dominate our efforts. We need to be conforming the image of Christ, and we can't when we are conforming to the world.
When we try to change how we view ourselves and how we want others to view us; when we try to fit into a mold that we’ve created or that the culture around us has created; when we want to be someone who we think is better, will get more attention, will be more accepted, etc., we are actually not being satisfied with who God has made us to be and who we are in Christ.
How do we figure out if we are changing our identity? Here are some questions I asked myself that might be helpful to you:
· Who are you?
- What do you think your friends, parents, teachers, etc. would say about you?
- What things do you like to do?
- What is most important to you?
- What do you spend the majority of your time doing or thinking about?
- What legacy would you want to leave behind?
· Why do the above things make you who you are?
When we try to change how we view ourselves and how we want others to view us; when we try to fit into a mold that we’ve created or that the culture around us has created; when we want to be someone who we think is better, will get more attention, will be more accepted, etc., we are actually not being satisfied with who God has made us to be and who we are in Christ.
How do we figure out if we are changing our identity? Here are some questions I asked myself that might be helpful to you:
· Who are you?
- What do you think your friends, parents, teachers, etc. would say about you?
- What things do you like to do?
- What is most important to you?
- What do you spend the majority of your time doing or thinking about?
- What legacy would you want to leave behind?
· Why do the above things make you who you are?
This is where we must honestly examine our motives. Is reading your Bible most important to you because you want your parents to think your super spiritual, or because you genuinely want to know more about God?
- Is this what you want your friends, parents, teachers, etc. to think about you? Why?
- Why do you like to do those things?
- Why are those things most important to you?
- Why do you spend so much time doing those things?
- Why do you want that legacy? Is it something God would be proud of?
· Is who you are who God says you are?
- Is this what you want your friends, parents, teachers, etc. to think about you? Why?
- Why do you like to do those things?
- Why are those things most important to you?
- Why do you spend so much time doing those things?
- Why do you want that legacy? Is it something God would be proud of?
· Is who you are who God says you are?
At this point, after asking myself the pervious questions, I was filled with confusion and frustration. Who am I under all these different masks I wear? How do I find freedom from binding myself to my fake identities?
As Christians, we are new creatures. Because of Jesus, we take on a new and eternal identity. God defines who we are. Not only has He created us with unique personalities, given us a soul that can never die, and made us in His image; we are now the children of God, heirs with Christ, slaves of God – the list goes on!
So to avoid making ourselves false identities, we need to 1) be seeking God, 2) be renewing our minds, and 3) be reminding ourselves of who He says we are.
1) Let's not focus on ourselves. We can fall into the trap of trying to be someone we're not, and we can fall into the trap of trying so hard to be who God made us to be, that we lose sight of where our focus should really be - on God. God is conforming us to the image of His Son, our task is too keep our eyes on the Christ. (2Cor 3:18)
2) Part or conforming to the image of Christ includes renewing our minds and not being conformed to the things of this world. We need to change our minds about who we think we are and who the world says we are. (Rom 12:2) A great way to do this is to devour the Word of God.
3) There are so many verses in the Bible about who we are in Christ. It doesn’t have to be self-centered to look at these verses. God put them in for a reason! We can read, marvel, and worship God for His display of grace towards us.
I challenge you to look some verses up. Don't look up verses that talk so much about who we should be or how we should act as Christians, but our identity or status in Christ – who we already are.
For example:
As Christians, we are new creatures. Because of Jesus, we take on a new and eternal identity. God defines who we are. Not only has He created us with unique personalities, given us a soul that can never die, and made us in His image; we are now the children of God, heirs with Christ, slaves of God – the list goes on!
So to avoid making ourselves false identities, we need to 1) be seeking God, 2) be renewing our minds, and 3) be reminding ourselves of who He says we are.
1) Let's not focus on ourselves. We can fall into the trap of trying to be someone we're not, and we can fall into the trap of trying so hard to be who God made us to be, that we lose sight of where our focus should really be - on God. God is conforming us to the image of His Son, our task is too keep our eyes on the Christ. (2Cor 3:18)
2) Part or conforming to the image of Christ includes renewing our minds and not being conformed to the things of this world. We need to change our minds about who we think we are and who the world says we are. (Rom 12:2) A great way to do this is to devour the Word of God.
3) There are so many verses in the Bible about who we are in Christ. It doesn’t have to be self-centered to look at these verses. God put them in for a reason! We can read, marvel, and worship God for His display of grace towards us.
I challenge you to look some verses up. Don't look up verses that talk so much about who we should be or how we should act as Christians, but our identity or status in Christ – who we already are.
For example:
- Rom 6:22, says I am free from sin. I am the servant of God.
- Rom 8:28, says I am called to God’s purpose.
- Rom 9:23, says I am the vessel God uses to display the riches of His glory.
- Eph 1:4, says I am chosen by God before the foundation of the world. I am holy and without blame before God in love.
- Eph 1:6, says I am accepted in Christ.
- Rom 8:16, says I am a child of God.
I found this so freeing! I think if we’re grounded in these truths and pursuing God, instead of defining our identity in other things and pursuing man’s opinions, we will find ourselves free from the burden of trying to be someone we’re not.
“ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10
Let’s try starting a bit of a discussion! What are some ways you have tried to define your identity? Are there any verses that have helped you to redefine it? Leave you answers in the comments below!
~Brooke
- Rom 8:28, says I am called to God’s purpose.
- Rom 9:23, says I am the vessel God uses to display the riches of His glory.
- Eph 1:4, says I am chosen by God before the foundation of the world. I am holy and without blame before God in love.
- Eph 1:6, says I am accepted in Christ.
- Rom 8:16, says I am a child of God.
I found this so freeing! I think if we’re grounded in these truths and pursuing God, instead of defining our identity in other things and pursuing man’s opinions, we will find ourselves free from the burden of trying to be someone we’re not.
“ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10
Let’s try starting a bit of a discussion! What are some ways you have tried to define your identity? Are there any verses that have helped you to redefine it? Leave you answers in the comments below!
~Brooke
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